Look, I’m​​ not going to insult your intelligence and tell you why the Tigers are going to shock the world and contend for a division title. I’m not going to attempt to talk you off the ledge if you feel strongly that the team might lose upwards of 100 games this season. I’m not even forecasting an Opening Day unmitigated by rain and dreary weather.

But I am here to bring you some semblance of hope and optimism as you, loyal Tigers fan, embark on a season that could be filled with pain. Yes, it may be ugly at times, even uglier than last year, but I think there are plenty of reasons it could at least be interesting.

And so whether it’s turning on a radio broadcast of the game while you’re out grilling on your deck, making the trek to Comerica Park because your boss foists a pair of free tickets on you, or simply scouring the pre-draft rankings online, I’m taking you through the ABC’s of why it may actually be enjoyable to pay attention this year:

“AttaBaby!” – If you spent any amount of time around the backfields this spring, you would have learned that this is the token catch-phrase of encouragement employed by new manager Ron Gardenhire, whose upbeat instruction and positivity seemed to have a palpable effect on his new charges this spring. Gardenhire’s blue-collar barking is a stark departure from the more cool, cerebral approach from his predecessor in Brad Ausmus. We’ll see soon what sort of impact his managerial style will have on a young group of kids with very little expectation and quite a lot to learn.

Brisket-Stuffed Corn Muffins – Brisket. Cheese. Corn bread. All combined into one lovable, gooey, calorie-laden savory patron pastry of deliciousness. That’s one of several new culinary offerings that will be available at Comerica Park this season. So, look at it this way: even if the team stinks, a jaunt to the game won’t be a total waste, assuming you pick your in-game eats appropriately. For the resident sweet-tooths: the sugar-dusted Nutella egg rolls also look promising.

Candy Man – No, this is not another food plug, but rather an homage to a nickname already gaining traction with one of Detroit’s late-season additions from last year. Jeimer Candelario was acquired in a trade with the Cubs that sent Justin Wilson and Alex Avila back to Chicago last July, and in just his short stint last season with Detroit, the 24-year-old infielder showed plenty of potential and promise. Fans will now get an everyday look at Candelario, who will man third base as Nicholas Castellanos moves to right field.

Draft Day buildup – By virtue of last season’s abysmal finish, the Tigers will draft first overall, colloquially known around baseball as “1-1.” It’s a coveted pick and one that comes with the promise of adding a generational talent to an organization in dire need of replenishment. There’s skepticism that a player of that caliber exists among this year’s class, but there’s still some solid talent worth salivating over, in pitchers like Brady Singer and Casey Mize, as well as position players like Oregon State’s Nick Madrigal and South Alabama’s Travis Swaggerty. With no clear-cut consensus No. 1 pick, half the fun for Tigers fan might be to check the weekly rankings of whose stock is rising as the draft draws near.

Examples of Chris Bosio’s influence – Already this spring, you’ve heard plenty of Tigers pitchers espousing the techniques and tutelage of new pitching coach Chris Bosio. He’s not afraid to be a hands-on technician, and he’s also not afraid to give players an earful. Given his track record of success in Chicago, there’s hope that he can be a difference-maker in helping to mold the team’s relatively young and inexperienced staff.

Focus on Fundamentals – No one is expecting the Tigers to be world-beaters, nowhere even close. But despite the team’s paltry projections, Gardenhire and his staff have been emphatic in stressing the need to play the right way. That’s a must for this Tigers team, especially considering certain areas were conspicuously lacking in recent years (see: base-running). No one expects the Tigers to compete for a division title this year, but Gardenhire still views this season as a critical one in laying the foundation for years to come.

Greene as Tigers Closer – Since when have the Tigers had an Opening Day closer that fans have actual reason to feel confident about? Well, it is indeed a new era in Detroit. After the Tigers traded Wilson at the trade deadline, Shane Greene used an extended stint in the team’s premier bullpen role to prove that he wasn’t just closing out games by default. The former starter showed a keen knack for the position, so much so that it was deemed his spot to lose entering spring. Greene performed to expectations down in Lakeland, and will now provide the team with some solidity and continuity where they have consistently lacked in years prior.

How Michael Fulmer fares – The 2016 AL Rookie of the Year underwent season-ending nerve transposition surgery on his elbow back in September. Though the relatively straightforward procedure should not prompt the same sort of concerns as, say, Tommy John surgery, there is still some curiosity about how the 24-year-old will perform in his first time back on the mound since being shut down at the end of last season. Fulmer is expected to be a stalwart of the staff, and if the Tigers entertain any hopes of remaining competitive, those hopes likely hinge on Fulmer’s health and performance.

Ilitch Insight – There remains much to be seen about how Christopher Ilitch will run both the Tigers and the Red Wings, but each season we are bound to learn more and more that reveal his ownership style, and how it may differ from his father, Mike, the beloved team patriarch who passed away in February of 2017. Whereas the elder Ilitch was aggressive and bold in spending to field star-laden, competitive teams, his son is overseeing a rebuild with the Tigers, and another downturn in the life cycle of his other team, the Red Wings. He attended scout meetings with the Tigers this season and threw his support behind Al Avila and Co. this spring, but this overhaul requires shrewd stewardship from the absolute top.

JaCoby Jones’ progress – Jones has always possessed dazzling athleticism, so there is little doubt about his ability to perform as a major league outfielder, but the biggest question over whether he could be prove to be an everyday player at the MLB level is his ability to produce at the plate. Jones made a strong case for himself this spring, mashing a pair of home runs and slashing .354/.415/.542 in 20 games of Grapefruit League play, earning himself a spot on the Tigers’ bench, where he will provide a good deal of versatility. Can he sustain the production to keep his place on the team?

K/BB ratio – One way that I attempted to predict who might exceed their projections for 2018 was by looking at strikeout to walk ratio, and one pitcher who stood out was Drew VerHagen. In eight games this spring, VerHagen, struck out 14 and walked only three, all while showing an increase in velocity while pitching out of the bullpen. It’s possible that this portends a breakout year for the 27-year-old, who has a career ERA of 4.89 and an average of just 5.53 strikeouts per nine innings.

Lineup Debates – Perhaps the most polarizing topic in Detroit baseball outside of bullpen usage has been the team’s roster construction and batting order over the years. That will certainly be a way that fans will scrutinize and evaluate Gardenhire in the first few weeks of the season (and let’s be real: all the subsequent weeks to come). How he chooses to deploy those various permutations will likely reveal his ingrained philosophies and how receptive he is to input from other departments.

Miguel Cabrera’s projected bounce back – Most Tigers fans know that if there’s any true barometer of how the big man is feeling, it’s his ability to hit to the opposite field. And if that’s indication, there was probably nothing easier on the eyes than his smooth stroke in a recent spring training game in which he swatted one out against the Yankees earlier this month. Cabrera, whose ability to play through pain is wholly underrated, appears to be healthy this season, which should figure huge into his ability to bounce back from what was a career-worst 2017 season.

New Leadership – Gone is sure-handed second baseman Ian Kinsler and verifiable ace Justin Verlander, which means the Tigers will have to count on some young up-and-comers to carry the leadership load this season. Already Castellanos has embraced that opportunity, reaching out to some of the greener members of the clubhouse, as well as some of the team’s organizational icons to try to forge some unity ahead of what could be a difficult season. But perhaps the most compelling aspect of his growing role with the team? The fact that he wants this team to actually have some fun.

Outfielder competition – Leonys Martin has locked down the center field position, with Mikie Mahtook and Castellanos locking down left and right field responsibilities, respectively. But Jones will certainly push for time in the outfield if he can earn his keep with his bat. Also, keep an eye on Mike Gerber in Toledo. Though the former Creighton standout was reassigned to Triple A during the end of camp, he is a player who the Tigers will likely summon to the big club sooner rather than later.

Potential on the Mound – To sum it up as succinctly as possible, this is a make-or-break season for both Matthew Boyd and Daniel Norris. Both Boyd and Norris are young lefties with enviable talent, but neither have quite succeeded at putting it all together during their time in Detroit. Patience was wearing thin last season, so both need to prove they can be counted on every fifth day this year.

Quality of competition — Let’s face it, the Indians are clearly the cream of the Central, with the Twins the only other team even expected to challenge them. With the Royals and White Sox also within the division, the Tigers might actually having a shot at winning some games. They could accidentally finish third and still lose 90 games.

Reading the Tea Leaves on Analytics – A consistent critique of the Tigers over the past several years has been the team’s slow-to-adopt commitment to analytics, as compared to some of the more progressive teams in baseball. The organization has recently trumpeted increased efforts in that area, but the level of influence the department will exert under Gardenhire’s tenure remains to be seen. Though he expressed a receptivity to analytics in his introductory press conference this winter, the old-school skipper has previously indicated an aversion to such methods.

Schreiber’s sidearm – One of the pleasant surprises in training camp was Wyandotte native John Schreiber, whose sidearm delivery and overall performance this spring caused some folks to take notice. “You only stay surprised for a little while,” Dave Littlefield, Tigers vice president of player development told theDetroit Free Press. “After he keeps putting up zeroes, striking out guys and not giving up hits, you start looking closer.” It’s that sort of impression that could make the 24-year-old an arm to keep an eye on this season as he progresses through the organizational ranks.

Trade deadline intrigue – The buzziest news of the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando back in December was the Tigers’ willingness to listen on potential trade offers for Fulmer. And while general manager Al Avila stressed that he was not shopping his frontline starter, he also made it known he was more than willing to hear a team out should they come to the table with the ability to blow him away. Expect that speculation to only intensify as the season progresses.

Unexpected overachievers – Every year, there’s a pleasant surprise. Mahtook qualified last season, with his spark plug presence both on and off the field for the Tigers. Who will exceed expectations and earn himself an unexpected role this season?

Velocity of Joe Jimenez – The 23-year-old flamethrower is swearing by an overhaul this offseason, which included a fierce commitment to training and to a healthier, cleaner diet. As a result, he’s dropped some weight, improved his conditioning and aiming to prove his fastball won’t dip as a result. An improved command of his pitches will likely be a huge point of emphasis this season for the Puerto Rican-born pitcher who is still seen as the heir apparent to Greene as the closer of the future.

What happens with Victor Martinez – Heading into this season, there was speculation about whether the 39-year-old designated hitter would retire or potentially be released. And not just because of his decline in production. As his role diminished, reports surfaced about his attitude and behavior within the clubhouse. He rankled some teammates last season by getting a bit too chummy with an enemy combatant during a fight-filled fracas back in August, so it will be interesting to assess whether he gain back equity, and influence, within that clubhouse again.

X-factor – One of the vital parts of this Tigers rebuild will be to identify which players should be a part of the team’s future and which players are expendable in the pursuit of assets in return. For a team that used to be rich in star power, that sort of cache is on the decline. But the Tigers still need to fill seats. Determining which players will help do that it the years to come will be no small feat.

Youth Movement – While some people are predicting the Tigers will lose upwards of 100-plus games, the most important answer as to whether 2018 is successful or not won’t reside in the win-loss column, but rather the development of the team’s young talent. The key here is growth and improvement. If Gardenhire can accomplish that, it might take significant sting out of the losses that are sure to pile up.

Zimmermann’s slider – As my colleague Max Bultman adeptly pointed out, the key to Jordan Zimmermann’s veteran’s success this season will likely be his slider. Already this spring, he’s looked like a different pitcher, one that harkens back to his days as a bulldog workhorse of the Washington Nationals rotation. The Tigers need Zimmermann to build on what was a strong spring, with the 31-year-old hopefully providing a steadying presence on the team’s staff.

(Top photo of Michael Fulmer by Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports)

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Katie Strang is the managing editor and a senior writer at The Athletic Detroit. She joined The Athletic after six years at ESPN.com, where she held a variety of roles, including senior editor and writer, covering the NHL and MLB. While reporting on the NHL, she was a regular on the Hockey Today podcast and a contributor to SportsCenter. You can contact her at [email protected] Follow Katie on Twitter @KatieJStrang.